Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nicholas Kristof understands how to hope—especially in the face of despair or disappointment. He has spent his life shining a light on global tragedies like the Tiananmen Square massacre or the genocide in Darfur. And yet, despite all the horrors he has born witness to, he maintains a sense of hard-won optimism. “Hope is a muscle,” he says, and one we can all learn to develop. 

In this live conversation, Kate and Nicholas discuss: 

• How to maintain hope in the year ahead
• Nicholas’ best argument as to why this is the best time to be alive
• His strategies to seeing pain and courage up close over and over again
• Why our small actions matter (even when it feels like a drop in the ocean) 

If you liked this episode, you’ll love: 

• Bryan Stevenson on justice in the face of unthinkable odds

• David Fajgenbaum on how hope pulls us forward

• Sarah Polley on why we should run toward what scares us

 This episode originally aired September 2024.